Neutron activation analysis of manganese and sodium in bacterial cells.

The application of neutron activation analysis for mineral determinations in bacteria was investigated. Elements considered here were manganese and sodium. The sporeformer Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 was utilized. With this method, the manganese and sodium levels of whole and ashed vegetative cells, sporulating cells, and free spores were determined. The culture medium was also analyzed for these two elements. The results indicate that neutron activation analysis is readily applicable to the study of mineral content of bacterial cells, spores, and culture media. The method has been shown to be ideal for the study of incorporation and egression of mineral elements during vegetative growth and secondary metabolism of sporulation.